Kickstarter

Hello internet friends!  

Remember that short film Bathtub Dream....

Well, after seeing so many peers use kickstarter to successfully (and politely) raise funds for shorts, I figured I’d take a stab at it.

Thus, here’s my first crack at a kickstarter campaign, the purpose of which is to raise enough funds to support another short film on 16mm.

 

What?  16mm?  Are you crazy? 

 Totally.

 

Can’t you just shoot it on your iPad3? It takes 1080 video.  Then you can upload it right to facebook, and listen to Pandora at the same time!

Ugh.

Fortunately, I’ve enough friendly connections to support a short on 16mm, but I’m seeking some money to cover rental equipment, set dressing, and film development.

 

 

So what is this project?

Well, it’s the next installment in a series of “exquisite corpse” style shorts I hope to make.  Sort of like the surrealist game, I take two words, link them together, and create a short film that explores the associations of those two words.  The result is a visual poem.  A meditation on a single, simple thought. 

 

Previously, I made a short called Bathtub Dream –and the result can be seen as my project video on this page, or here: http://vimeo.com/6632164

 

Now, I’m working on something called “Rain Church” that will be a small musing on renaissance architecture and statues during a rain storm.  Statues will awaken in the rain, ancient walls will crumble, a flood will cleanse the wicked, and more.

 

The world of the film will be built out of miniatures, trick shots, and superimpositions.  Thus, I’m about to spend a week building all the art related elements for this little gem.   Funding will help suport the creation of needed props and miniatures, as well as necessary costumes and make up.

 

So what’s the story again?

Well, that’s the fun part.  The story forms out of the images.  Once they are created, the narrative is discovered.  It’s like a big, beautiful game of mad libs.  A project like this is best categorized as formal experimentation – all the variables are at hand, and when they get plugged into the equation, they form their beautiful result.  Thus, supporting this project is supporting an alternative creative approach to cinema. There's a little mystery and discovery in play. Perhaps akin to providing patronage to an artist, knowing only that some work of art will come of it – even if the specifics of that work aren’t planned out.  For those of you familiar with my previous work as a filmmaker and art director, and familiar with the friends that will be joining me on this project, you’re probably aware of the visual rewards to be discovered in a project like this.  Should be delicious.

 

 

So, is this going to be a subconscious smattering of all kinds of myth and lore?

Totes – but you can only fit so much into a small package.

 

 

Is this the story of Der Golem told through the art and objects of the high Renaissance?

Perhaps.

 

Is this going to be the visual equivalent of a Whitman's sampler?

Only the Cherry Cordial Candy.

 

Did you really like the album “Born To Die?”

Yes, please stop asking.

 

Can I be in your film?

Yes!  I do need some actors and models to be immortalized in this.

 

I hate being on camera, but I love helping on shoots, can I?

Most definitely.  Let’s grab a coffee and chat!

 

 

So, I thank you for taking a peak at this small project.  I know there’s totally a million other kickstarters trying to raise $50,000 for their own project, so what am I thinking trying to raise 1k, as opposed to 50k?  Well, I believe in thinking resourcefully - and this is a little project.  1k should be enough money to make something special, while not being too intrusive right off the bat.  If this works, and we raise the money, I promise I’ll come back with a 50k project at some point :D

 

Thanks guys!!

Ethan